AQW 37892/11-15 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what fiscal support currently exists for farm businesses, specifically in the agri-food sector, which are seeking to expand.

Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 23 October 2014

Answered
Written

Tabled: 23 October 2014
Answer due by: 7 November 2014
Answered: 4 November 201412 days after tabling
Department: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Priority question: No

Answer

There is currently no financial support available to new applicants seeking to expand their businesses.

The final tranches of financial assistance under the EU–funded Rural Development Programme 2007-13 Modernisation of Agricultural Holdings and the Agricultural and Forestry Processing and Marketing Scheme measures, have now closed.

On 14 October 2014 I announced the submission of the draft Rural Development Programme 2014-20 to the European Commission. Subject to EU approval, anticipated by April 2015, the proposed Farm Business Improvement and the Agri-food Processing Investment Schemes will provide extensive support for sustainable growth in the agri-food sector.

Official sources